Hurricanes make NHL history with impressive playoff record

The Carolina Hurricanes have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006. Carolina tore down the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. It was the feather in the cap for the Canes as they completed one of the most dominant runs in NHL history.

THE CANES ADVANCE TO THE STANLEY CUP!

Seth Jarvis with an OPEN NET goal to make it 6-1 to seal the deal in Game 5
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The Hurricanes lost Game 1 against the Canadiens in the East Final. However, that loss represents their only defeat in this postseason. They are the first team to make the Stanley Cup Final with only one loss in the first three rounds in league history, according to hockey insider Frank Seravalli.

There have been a couple teams that have come close since the NHL adopted the four-round, seven-game playoff format in 1987. The 1988 Edmonton Oilers went 12-2 en route to the Final, which they won in a sweep over the Boston Bruins. In 2012, the Los Angeles Kings also went 12-2 as they defeated the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Hurricanes first met the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs. Carolina did not need long to take care of them. They swept Ottawa to advance to round two. It was the same story there, as they swept the Philadelphia Flyers to make the Eastern Conference Finals.

Prior to this Canadiens series, Carolina had struggled in the East Final. In fact, they entered the matchup with Montreal owning a 1-16 record in their previous 17 East Final games. This encompassed the East Final in 2009, 2019, 2023, and 2025.

However, they have certainly exercised those demons. The Hurricanes are Eastern Conference champions once again. And they will now take on the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. Carolina and Vegas will take the ice for Game 1 on Tuesday night at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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